Mortar mount



June 29, 1943. c, cAuLKlNs 2,444,334

MORTAR MOUNT Filed Feb. 14, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BF. EALILKWS,

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .....A. v (1 III. 1 IN I h wwl l k rl l l l I I I I W L T June 29, 1948- c. P. CAULKINS MORTAR MOUNT Filed Feb. 14, 1945 June 29, 1948. c, P, L IN 2,444,334

MORTAR MOUNT Filed Feb. 14, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 111 CALJLKINE,

STATES OFFICE MORTAR MOUNT Application February 14, 1945, Serial No. 577,823

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a mount for a mortar.

Mounts for mortars are usually so heavy and cumbersome that they can be moved only with great difficulty and then only by a considerable number of men. Furthermore, the various sections of a mount are frequently of such a size and weight that they require vehicles for their transportation and are assembled and disassembled only by the expenditure of excessive time and labor. Adjustments for azimuth have presented dificulties and frequently a high degree of precision in adjustment has been almost impossible to attain. Means for elevating and lowering the barrel of the mortar have left much to be desired from the point of ease and speed in attaining the desired setting,

It is therefore, the purpose of this invention to provide a mortar mount that can be readily handled in the assembled condition, by a limited number of men, that can be easily and quickly disassembled into pack-units of reasonable size and weight for personnel transportation, and be easily and quickly reassembled and accurately set and adjusted for both azimuth and elevation.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete mortar mount assembly including a supporting leg shown in detached relationship.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the base and the middle portion of the carriage.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the complete assembly.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 5 through the elevating screw.

Fig, 5 is a conventional perspective of the elevating mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a section through a fixed guide showing its relation to the base, to the bearing strip and the auxiliary base support.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the locking guide.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the traversing screw, pivot stud and traversing screw sleeve, and sliding yoke of the azimuth adjusting assembly.

In Fig. 1 is shown a dish-shaped base I0, having an annular flange provided along its edge with scallops l2 for the purpose of biting into the ground. At the center of base ID is provided a bearing cup [3 of spherical curvature which supports carriage 20.

trued on its periphery and upper surface to serve Radial reinforcing ribs |4 may be provided on the underside of base In, and said ribs l4 may be further strengthened by a circular plate I5.

A plurality of equally spaced handles l5 are preferably secured to the outside of flange H for facilitating the handling of the assembled mount. A plurality of equally spaced vertically upstanding channel members H are also secured to the outside of said flange, each channel be ing provided with two pairs of horizontal, axially aligned holes l8 and I9, respectively upper and lower, and brac'eslla.

The carriage 20 comprises a circular plate 2| provided at its center with a bearing cup 22 of spherical configuration which engages bearing cup l3 in base ID. The periphery of plate 2| isprovided with a somewhat thicker ring portion 23 concentric with plate 2|, such ring portion serving the several purposes of providing a reinforcement for plate 2|, an annular hearing flange or strip 21 and a base for mounting a graduated azimuth scale 24 by means of screws 25.

Since the ring 23 is integral with plate 2| it provides substantial reinforcement to said plate. Furthermore, there are preferably a plurality of radial ribs 26 on the underside of plate '2 I, joined to both ring 23 and plate 2 I, so as to provide additional strength. The outer portion of ring 23 is as a bearing strip 21, for a purpose to appear later.

On the upper surface of plate 2| and inside ring 23, there are provided reinforcing ribs 28 merging with an elevating unit housing 29. Two axially horizontal aligned cylindrical bearings 30 are provided in opposite sides of said housing and above them are two arcuate slots 3| concentric with bearings 30, the purpose of which will appear later. Around bearing cup 22 in the center of carriage '20 is provided an integral upstanding bearing cup guide 32 which merges with reinforcing ribs 28, as shown in Fig. 3.

The elevating unit 49, as shown in Figs. 3

- 'and .5, consists of atubular member 4| to which dle 42 with a pin 45, pivotally secured therein and,

and a clamp collar 59-450. Sliding yoke 41 has two parallel integral sliding bearings or sleeves 48 constructed to slidably engage pins 46, wherebyyoke 41 may slide on pins 45 Ahole 49....is pro:

vided through the neck of yoke fiflflperpendicu lar to the plane defined by the axes of sleeves 4 8.

A T-shaped member consisting of a stud 50, pr ovided with an offset transverse sleeve 51, is pivotally secured in hole 49. A traversing screw 55:

threadably engages sleeve 51.

heconnecting yckefi a acsdslid na eare ings pr sleeves 5 la thru which trayersing, screw- 551s ass mb edrsa d. screw, 5. b n thereby rotatably mounted between the arms of yok jfi. A knob 56 is preferably provided von oneend of screw 55 for turning same. Slidingyoke l] may thus be transversely movedrelative to connecting yoke 54 and alsoswivelwith respect thereto.

Equally spaced on each side pi thecenten of yoke .54 are two sleeves 5] axially perpendicular to a plane through the arms, of sa d yoke a d t axis of traversing screw 55;. Pins 58 project rearwardly out of sleeves 51. A split. collar 59-60 is provided to clamp around the barrel of a mortar |0D', the twosegrnents 59 andfill being pivotally jo nted, by m ans. of a. 11 2 .51 e ured by means of a screw clamp 62. Two sleeves 53 are provided, integrally formed, on the lower segment t e a of id's eev s.ands 1 59- n pa a le s eev s 5.3 aresii ably enga ed .on

pins 58' and thusthe barreloi. the mortar lflll is supported on elevating unit 49.

In t0 s ure thje jmor ar. H 0 in an sired elevation, there is provided a positioning.

member 65. A transverseslot 68 is provided, passing thru the mid-section oftubular member M, and a pin 69, pivotallysecuredwithin said member 64, is provided with adiametrical threaded hole 70 in ali nm i t Withsaid lots 58. .Axi ally aligning holes I! are provided in the. ends of arms 66, the axis of said holes beingparallel to and in the same plane as the axesof tubular members 64 and 65.

A pin 12 is provided for ,pivotally securing the elevating assembly to elevating housing 29, This pin 12 is assembled through cylindrical bearings 39, holes ll in arms fili, and tubular member 4|. A'bolt 13 with a handnut l l is assembled thru tubular .inelnber 55 and. arcuate slots 3| in elevating unithousing zfi for locking the elevating assembly in appljqximate position.

Final adjustment of elevation isjaccomplished.1

by m ns f. (fight. a d. et? h nd h eade 1 0 tiOns) screw 15 having threadably engaging pins 45 a 6 n s v s and 6A' e ective -.-.A

knob 76 is provided on sgrew 5 for adjusting same.

r r o ecure. c rr a e. .1 n hy'desired azimuth position and to guide the rotationthereof, two fixed guides 8E) and one adjustable locking guide 8| are provided for assembly in channels I! by means of removable pins 82 and 83 assembled thru holes l8 and [9 in channels it and holes 84 and 85 in the upright portion of guides and 8| respectively. A shoe (Fig. 6) is attached to the underside of the horizontal portion of each guide 823, said shoe 86 slidably engaging bearing strip 27 of carriage Z6 and thereby imparting a guiding action to the rotation of the carriage. Locking guide 8! (Fig, 7) differs from fixed guide 89 in that its shoe 8? is vertically adjustable by means of a screw 88 and a fixed pointer 89 is provided thereon for indicating position on azimuth scale 24.

Auxiliary base supports 92 (Figs. 1 and 3) provide additional stability to the mount. Each support consists of a straight leg 9! with a fabricated steel spade-like foot 92 which is secured at the outer end by a pivot pin 93, and a bearing bracket 94 near the middle along the top side, and is pivotally secured to the base it by means of pin 83 thru the lower pair of holes I9 in channel ll. Any conventional type of expansion member is mounted between the base and each leg, such as a turnbuckle 95 with tubular bearings 91 and 98 at each end and is secured between bearing bracket 94 and the upper pair of holes l8 in channel I? by means of pins 93a and 82 respectively. Pins 82 and 83 are readily removable and secured against loss by chains 29 by means of which they are fastened to base Hi.

The mortar I Oil is of course provided with a conventional breech cap Nil and ball I92. To set up the mount, the base Ill is placed in the desired location and leveled as accurately as possible. Base support legs 9! are secured to the base by insertion of pins 82 and 83 and turnbuckle 95 tightened causing supports 9D to bite into the ground. With the upper pin 82 removed from the channel I! holding the adjustable. guide 8|, said guide BI is swung out on pin 83 and the carriage 2!] is placed on base ill with bearing cup 22 nested in cup I? in base Ill and bearing strip 2'! under shoes 86 of guides 89. Looking guide BI is now swung into position and secured by upper pin 82 and shoe 8'! is tightened against bearing strip 2'! by adjusting screw 88. The mortar I00 is then placed in position with ball I02 in bearing cup 22 and split collar 59-6B secured around the mortar bar-rel.

When the mortar has been set in approximately the desired azimuth position as indicated by pointer 89 on scale 24, screw 88 in looking guide 8| is tightened, thereby locking carriage 26 in position. Final adjustment for azimuth is made by means of knob 56 on the elevating unit 40.

With nut M loosened, the mortar Hm is now manually set at the approximate elevation desired by force applied to handle 42 and nut 74 tightened to lock tubular member 65 in fixed position, thereafter screw 15 is turned to accomplish final adjustment for elevation.

When it is desired to remove or replace the auxiliary base supports, turnbuckle 95 is taken up till all pressure is gone from foot 92 and then pins 82 and 83 are removed disengaging said auxiliary base supports which are then removed and pins 32 and 83 replaced securing the corresponding guides in place.

'It is therefore apparent from the foregoing description and drawings that this invention provides a mortar mount that can be readily handled in the assembled condition, by a limited number of men, that can be easily and quickly disassembled into pack-units of reasonable size and weight for personnel transportation and be easily and quickly reassembled and accurately set and adjusted for both azimuth and elevation.

I claim:

1. An adjustable mortar mount comprising a base, a carriage rotatably mounted thereon for movement about a vertical axis, a socket on said carriage for supporting the breech end of a mortar while permitting limited aiming motion of said mortar, means for securing said carriage in any desired rotative position relative to said base, an elevating means for said mortar mounted on said carriage, said elevating means comprising a support unit arranged to engage the barrel of said mortar, means for pivoting said support unit about a horizontal axis, a linkage for converting said pivotal movement of said supporting means to a corresponding elevating or depressing movement of said mortar barrel.

2. In a mortar mount having a base member and a bearing arranged to receive the cap of a mortar therein to thereby support a mortar for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, the improvement comprising a bracket member, means on the base member for pivotally supporting one end of said bracket member for movement about a horizontal axis displaced from the horizontal axis of the bearing, means for securing said bracket member in any desired pivotal position, a clamp member arranged to rigidly engage the barrel of the mortar, and means for pivotally mounting said clamp member on the other end of said bracket member, said last mentioned means permitting relative linear movement between said clamp member and said bracket member whereby the clamp member may pivot in a vertical plane about the axis of the bearing when the bracket member is pivoted about its said horizontal axis.

3. In a mortar mount having a base member and a spherical bearing on the base member arranged to receive the spherical cap of a mortar therein, the improvement comprising a bracket member, means on the base member for pivotally supporting one end of said bracket member for movement about a horizontal axis, means for securing said bracket member in any desired pivotal position, a clamp member arranged to rigidly engage a mortar, and a linkage interconnecting said clamp member and the other end of said bracket member, said linkage including means for adjusting the azimuthal position of said clamp member relative to said bracket membar.

4. In a mortar mount having a base member, the base member having a spherical bearing arranged to receive the spherical cap of a mortar therein, the improvement comprising a bracket member, means on the base member for pivotally supporting one end of said bracket member for movement about a horizontal axis displaced from the axis of said spherical bearing, means for securing said bracket member in any desired pivotal position, a clamp member pivotally secured to said bracket member and arranged to rigidly engage the mortar, and a linkage interconnecting said clamp member and the other end of said bracket member, said linkage including means for adjusting the azimuthal position of said clamp member relative to said bracket member, said linkage having sliding engagement with said bracket member for linear movement relative thereto whereby the clamp member may pivot in a vertical plane about the axis of said spherical bearing when said bracket member is pivoted about its said horizontal axis.

5. A mortar mount having a' base member and a spherical'bearing on the base member arranged to receive the spherical cap of a mortar therein, the improvement comprising a bracket member, means on the base member for pivotally supporting one end of said bracket member for movement about a horizontal axis displaced from the axis of said spherical bearing, means for securing said bracket member in any desired pivotal position, a clamp member pivotally secured to said bracket member and arranged to rigidly engage the mortar, a slide member slidably mounted on the other end of said bracket member for linear movement relative thereto, a connecting member slidably secured to said clamp member for movement parallel to the axis of the supported mortar, and means for securing'said connecting member to said slide member whereby the clamp member will pivot in a vertical plane about the axis of said spherical bearing when said bracket member is pivoted about its said horizontal axis.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said means for securing said connecting member to said slide member comprises a screw transversely disposed relative to the path of linear movement of said connectin member and arranged with respect to said slide member and said connecting member whereby rotation of said screw produces an azimuthal displacement of said clamp member relative to said base member.

'7. In an adjustable mount for a mortar having a base, a carriage rotatably mounted thereon for movement about a Vertical axis, and a spherical bearing mounted on the carriage to receive the spherical cap of a mortar therein, the improvement comprising a bracket member having a pair of spaced longitudinal arms, means for pivotally mounting the bracket member on the carriage for movement about a horizontal axis displaced from the axis of said spherical bearin each of said bracket arms terminating in a rod-like portion, a sliding yoke having a pair of bushings, each respectively slidably engaging one of said rodlike portions, a clamp member arranged to rigidly engage a mortar, a connecting yoke member slidably secured to said clamp member for linear movement relative thereto and an adjusting screw interconnecting said sliding yoke member and said connecting yoke member, said screw being constructed and arranged with respect to said sliding yoke member and said connecting yoke member whereby rotation of said screw produces an azimuthal displacement of said clamp member relative to the base.

8. An adjustable mount for a mortar, said mount comprising a generally circular base, a plurality of bracket members secured in spaced relationship about the periphery of said base, a plurality of support legs respectively removably secured to said bracket members by pins, a carriage rotatably mounted on said base, means on said carriage for supporting a mortar, said carriage having a circular bearing flange, a plurality of guide members respectively secured to said bracket members by said pins, said guide members engaging said bearing flange to impart a guiding action to the rotation of said carriage, and means for adjusting at least one of said guide members relative to said bearing flange whereby said carriage may be secured in any desired rotative position relative to said base.

9. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein 

